KALAMAZOO, MI (WKZO AM/FM) – Police have arrested a suspect who they say injured a Kalamazoo Department of Public Safety K-9 last night.
Around 7:30 p.m. Tuesday officers responded to what they described as “a rapidly unfolding event” where an adult male was armed with a knife, threatening to stab people.
They found the man on a porch armed with a box cutter. KDPS says the man then threatened to kill officers, ignored their commands to drop the knife, and began to advance on the officers.
A KDPS handler with K-9 Sledge arrived on scene and the suspect turned his attention on the K-9 handler. Again, the male was instructed to drop the knife, but ignored those orders and began to advance towards the K-9 handler.
They say Sledge was deployed to protect the lives of officers on scene and the citizens that had been assaulted. The man was apprehended, managed to stab the dog several times in the throat area.
K9 Sledge was rushed to an animal emergency hospital in Byron Center. Despite being stabbed in the jugular vein and sustaining a 40% blood loss, KDPS says K9 Sledge will survive his injuries and has been discharged from the hospital and has returned home with his handler.
The 49-year-old male suspect was treated at an area hospital for lacerations to his arm caused by the dog and remains lodged at the Kalamazoo County Jail on numerous felonies related to the initial attack and the attack on the police K-9.
The case is under review by the Kalamazoo County Prosecutor’s Office.
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